John McCain: Dan Snyder not Donald Sterling

Sen. John McCain said Redskins owner Dan Snyder is not the same as L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling, but said he would change the name of the football team.

“I’m not sure I’d connect the two. I do believe that if I were [Snyder], I would sit down with Native American leaders,” McCain said Friday on “The Dan Patrick Show.” “I’m not the owner and he has rights of an owner, but, frankly, I would probably change the name.”

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While McCain (R-Ariz.) said he wasn’t personally offended by the team’s name, he said many in the Native American community are.

“If they’re offended, then their feelings need to be taken into consideration,” the senator said.

Echoing remarks made earlier this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), McCain said if he were NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, he’d push for a sit-down between Snyder and the Native American community.

“I’d sit down with Snyder. And tell him to — I’d say, ‘Look, have a dialogue and then come back to me. And if the Native Americans are not satisfied with that dialogue, then you ought to consider changing it.’” McCain said. “Whether they can force him or not? I don’t know what the ownership situation is.”

As for Sterling, McCain had less to say but praised the National Basketball Association for its decision Tuesday to issue the Clippers owner a lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine — the maximum allowed under the league’s rules.

“We can have a short conversation. Unacceptable, racist, I’m glad what they did,” McCain said. “And I read that one of the really great guys I’ve ever known, [Sacramento Mayor] Kevin Johnson, was one of the people who was integral in that. Unacceptable. I’m glad they did it. End of story.”

In addition to the other penalties, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also said Tuesday that he would work to ensure gaining the support of the other NBA team owners to force a sale of the team, which McCain said he expects Sterling to challenge in court.